Why Good Photos Are the Most Important Part of a Tradie Website

If you ask most web designers what separates a tradie website that gets calls from one that doesn't, they'll tell you the same thing. Photos. Specifically, real photos of real work.

Stock photos are doing you damage

You've seen them. Generic tradesperson in a hard hat smiling at the camera. A perfect kitchen that could have come out of a magazine. These photos are everywhere and customers have learned to tune them out. Worse, they make your site look like everyone else's and give people no reason to trust you specifically.

Your phone is good enough

You don't need a professional photographer. Most modern phones take photos that are more than good enough for a website. Get into the habit of taking a photo of the finished job before you pack up. Wide shot of the whole thing, a couple of close-ups of any detail work. Takes about two minutes and builds up a solid gallery fast.

Before and after shots are worth their weight in gold

If there's a visible transformation in the job, photograph it before you start and after you finish. A bathroom with dodgy tiling versus a clean finished job. A garden that was overgrown versus one that's been properly sorted. These show the value of your work better than any description ever could.

Ask customers if they mind

Just ask. Most people are happy for you to use photos of their home or yard for your website, especially if you've done a good job. A quick mention at the end of the job is all it takes. Nine times out of ten they'll say yes.

Start taking photos from your next job. In a few months you'll have more than enough to fill a proper gallery, and your website will be doing a lot more work for you.